PROPAGATION OF HEPATITIS B VIRUS IN A RAT HEPATOMA CELL LINE STABLY TRANSFECTED WITH HUMAN ANNEXIN-V

H B virus (HBV) displays a distinct hepatotropism and a narrow host range in vivo (1, 2). Several studies using transfection and/or transgenic technology have suggested that the species barrier of HBV infection and replication may be located at the early step of viral adsorption (3, 4). However, information is incomplete concerning the interaction of HBV with its host cells, mainly because of difficulties in the development of a suitable tissue culture system. HBV infection in in vitro systems involves chromosomal replication of HBV-DNA but does not include the early events of infection. Transformed cell lines have been used for shortlived, single cycle culture of HBV after infection; however, the cells are thought to lose some of their liver specific functions, leading to loss of susceptibility to HBV. During the last decade, the studies on the putative receptors for HBV have revealed controversial and confusing results. It has been suggested that the HBV pre-S1 domain, in